Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour is a fascinating and enchanting place full of awe-inspiring tricks and illusions. Situated in the heart of the city, this parlour attracts people of all ages and backgrounds who are eager to experience the wonder and mystery of magic. As soon as you step into Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour, you are transported into a world of make-believe and illusion. The ambiance is bewitching, with dimmed lights and an air of anticipation. The walls are adorned with vintage posters of famous magicians from the past, adding to the overall charm of the place. The main attraction of Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour is, of course, the performances by Dennos Watson himself.
Neuenschwander explained that the redesign was customer driven as most customers wanted their data protected even after their phones got stolen, otherwise even common criminals could had the phone's data extracted to exploit, blackmail or steal their owner's identity. Rolling back would leave them vulnerable again.
In particular it focused on the mass shooting at San Bernardino where the shooter s mobile phone was retrieved but the phone s manufacturer, Apple, denied unlocking it even though unlocking phones provides major evidence in major crime scenes. Alternatively, ask anyone called Thierry Mairot, who likely faced a difficult time after an entirely false rumour claiming he was a sexual predator trying to seduce children on Facebook spread like wildfire, when thousands of Facebook users circulated the rumour without verification.
The main attraction of Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour is, of course, the performances by Dennos Watson himself. Known for his exceptional skills and dazzling stage presence, Dennos is a master of his craft. His shows are an amalgamation of classic tricks, mind-bending illusions, and mind-reading feats.
Facebook witch hunt scanner
A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was convened on December 10, 2019 to confront the ongoing conflict between government and law enforcement agencies and the tech industry regarding encryption. Experts from Apple and Facebook gave testimony but it was clear from the outset that the verdict had been reached before the hearing even began: encryption is an evil that must be sacrificed in the interests of law enforcement.
I've followed the press and read many articles about it, but unfortunately none of the coverage went into the level of detail I wanted. So I set about doing it myself. This is my in-depth commentary from a technologist's perspective, of Encryption and Lawful Access: Evaluating Benefits and Risks to Public Safety and Privacy. Follow this link if you want to view the orignal video recording.
It is important to analyze what took place during the 2 hour 21 minute hearing in order to understand the way governments are approaching this issue. It revals a general lack of understanding of how encryption technology works and a hostile attitude towards the tech industry, represented in this case by Apple and Facebook.
Although the hearing was concerned with every kind of encryption, in the main it was concerned with full device encryption. In particular it focused on the mass shooting at San Bernardino where the shooter's mobile phone was retrieved but the phone's manufacturer, Apple, "denied" unlocking it even though unlocking phones provides major evidence in major crime scenes.
This misinterpretation of "denial" in unlocking the phone, was at the core of the attempts to persecute encryption. It became more complicated when distinguished New York District Attorney (DA) Mr. Cyrus R. Vance, maintained that formerly, before 2014, Apple routinely provided his office with data on its users, and that it was the upgrade to iOS 8 in fall 2014 that made the contents of Apple phones inaccessible. But how was Apple able to give access to encrypted data pre-2014? According to Vance, by using a key that only Apple knew, implying that a backdoor had already existed!
Apple's Mr. Erik Neuenschwander tried in vain to explain that Apple never denied a request for cooperation and that even Apple hasn't got access to the encrypted data of its users so they simply can't comply; it's the way encryption works.
Continuing, he dispelled the myth that there was ever such a key which would give them access to the encrypted data and what changed in 2014 was the switch to full device encryption in contrast to the state before when the data at rest was stored on the device's storage media, unecrypted.
His attempt as vindication was in vain. The committee wouldn't listen to any of it because as the hearing progressed its members were coming back to bad Apple (pun intended) for having revoked the key.
Two examples where device encryption hindered investigations were given. One was of child exploitation by a baby sitter. The DA's department seized her phone and broke into it by hiring a third party service which used hacking tools and zero day exploits. The issue with this outsourcing is that the New York DA's office is one of the few law enforcement units that possesses the resources to hire such an expensive third party expertise; for most other units such a cost is prohibitive.
In another case, of sex trafficking, the law enforcement agencies couldn't break into the phone so the investigation came to a halt. All-in-all out of 1600 confiscated phones only half could be unlocked. This wasn't the case pre-2014 prompting the DA to ask for Apple to return its devices back to that state.
Neuenschwander explained that the redesign was customer driven as most customers wanted their data protected even after their phones got stolen, otherwise even common criminals could had the phone's data extracted to exploit, blackmail or steal their owner's identity. Rolling back would leave them vulnerable again.
But despite Neuenschwander's attemptes to dispel the myth of a backdoor or key, the impression that before 2014 Apple was complying with court orders in retrieving data from phones and that afterwards it somehow stopped complying, persisted The truth is that Apple hasn't stopped complying; after 2014 it couldn't help because it couldn't access its own devices.
The DA's reasoning was that product designs are man-made, which means that tech companies can do as they please in designing their products and that by extension they could design to support government access.
Neuenschwander replied that weakening encryption for the government, would weaken it for everyone else, even for the most vulnerable whom law enforcement was looking to protect; weakening everybody's privacy and security as a consequence. He also reiterated the merits of encryption in keeping us safe from perpetrators, keeping e-commerce and transactions over the internet rolling, in safely controlling our home and vehicles, and even protecting the country's infrastructure in healthcare and electricity grids.
Professor Matt Tait, Cyber Security Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, outlined another dimension to the issue of encryption; that it is important to distinguish between the types of encryption and the challenges that each pose to law enforcement:
- device encryption, which the DA was most concerned with
- end to end encrypted messaging apps, which prevent wire tapping
- cyber-tips, that is detecting illegal material such as child exploitation images over a communication platform
The current countermeasures for type 1,device encryption, is to use hacking tools to exploit vulnerabilities in the phone's Operating System. As for types 2 and 3, since the communication can't be intercepted, other countermeasures can be employed, like scanning for malicious material on the end device itself.
In summing up, Professor Tait explained that there are, or can be solutions, that do not require circumventing encryption.
At this point both Apple's and Facebook's representatives told the panel that they closely cooperate with authorities, replying to requests, training law enforcement officials, scanning their networks with AI, doing behavioral analysis and using the unencrypted meta-data to prevent illegal activities. Facebook has 35K employees working on this particular field taking down videos, imagery and fake accounts, detecting and preventing harm. These initiatives I think clearly answer one panelist's question of "Do you care about the victims?".
Again, a senator called out Apple for only filing 43 child abuse reports compared to Facebook's millions, so by definition Apple doesn't care as much or doesn't do as much as Facebook. Of course, Apple's representative, whose anguish one could clearly read, tried to reply that these cases are different and can't be compared; devices versus messaging apps that serve billions of messages.
But the discussion was veering towards one and only direction: find a way to let us in or we will impose our will on you! I had thought that a hearing on evaluating the "Benefits and Risks to Public Safety and Privacy" meant that all stakeholders would come together and discuss possible solutions by trying to find middle ground; this defied the purpose. You could however sense that the parties are so far apart that only legislation could settle it. The problem is what kind of legislation and how applicable is it going to be?
This week, a new subreddit popped up: “FindBostonBombers.” Scouring the Internet for photos and clues, redditors decided to play detective. Things soon spiraled out of control.
One of Dennos Watson's signature tricks is the "Floating Lady," where he levitates a volunteer from the audience, leaving everyone in awe and disbelief. Another crowd favorite is his card manipulation routine, where he effortlessly manipulates a deck of cards, making them appear, disappear, and transform in the blink of an eye. The magic shows at Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour are not only visually stunning but also highly interactive. Dennos often invites members of the audience to participate in his tricks, making them feel like part of the performance. This personal touch creates a sense of excitement and involvement, leaving the spectators with unforgettable memories. Apart from the magic shows, Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour also offers magic classes and workshops for those aspiring to learn the art. Dennos himself conducts these classes, sharing his knowledge and experience with budding magicians. These classes provide a unique opportunity for individuals to unravel the secrets behind the tricks and develop their own magic skills. In conclusion, Dennos Watson's Magic Parlour is a haven for magic enthusiasts and curious minds alike. It offers a captivating experience that will leave you questioning your perception of reality. Whether you are attending a show or participating in a magic class, this parlour is guaranteed to leave you spellbound and craving for more of Dennos Watson's enchanting performances..
Reviews for "Secrets and Illusions at Dennos Watmins Magic Parlour"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was really excited to attend Dennos Watmins Magic Parlour after hearing so much about it, but I left feeling disappointed. The performance was lackluster and the tricks were predictable. The overall atmosphere was quite dull, and even the audience interaction felt forced and awkward. I expected a magical experience, but all I got was a sense of boredom. I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Michael - 2 stars
I attended Dennos Watmins Magic Parlour with high expectations, but unfortunately, it fell short. The show lacked creativity and originality, with tricks that have been seen countless times before. The magician seemed disinterested and his delivery was lackluster. The venue itself was poorly maintained, with uncomfortable seating and a lack of proper lighting. Overall, the experience was underwhelming and not worth the ticket price.
3. Emily - 1 star
Dennos Watmins Magic Parlour was a complete disappointment. The entire show felt amateur and unpolished. The tricks were poorly executed, and I could see through the magician's tricks easily. The performance lacked any real sense of excitement or wonder. I regret spending my money on this show and would advise others to choose a different entertainment option.